The Sprout
Tulip time
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 177 May 2023
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The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,
Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Tel: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
Deliveries
Jan Shirley and Isabelle Hayes
9, Sweetmans Road OX2 9BA 07706 606719 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk
Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is
welcome. Later contributions may have to be held over to the next issue.
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Advertising Manager.
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Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The
Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription only £12 per annum,
delivered to your door. Contact: Janet Bartlam: 01865 453111.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for any
errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not a
vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in a
personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
The Sprout is printed by The Holywell Press, and published by
North Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by
guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.
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The Sprout
Issue 177, May 2023
Contents
3 Parish Council Hopefuls
19 Coronation Capers
21 Finding our new GPs
23 Planning Apps
25 2nd Botley Brownies
26 Musical Endings
27 Botley Artweeks
29 Botley in Bloom
31 4th Oxford Scouts
33 Kennington Memory Club
35 Helen Ward, Botley Arts
36 Randoms
39 General Organizations
From the Editor
Most of this month’s Sprout is taken up with lists. The almost comprehen-
sive list of candidates standing for the parish council on 4th May (p3)
shows the profiles of 25 of the 26 candidates standing for just 14 places.
There are parishes, I’m told, where people have to be begged to stand and
there are no elections because not all the spaces are filled. Not so in Botley
and North Hinksey, where public spirit reigns supreme! This will be evi-
dent, no doubt, around 8th May, when we are invited to celebrate the Cor-
onation by getting together with our friends and neighbours and doing
something helpful in the community. There is no shortage of possibilities
around our patch, and anyone who wants to write in and tell us what they
did can expect to be published next month. Official celebrations will be
rather low key compared with the shenanigans around the Platinum Jubi-
lee last year, but the beacon will be lit at 9pm on Saturday 6th, by Cumnor
Parish this time, and there will be picnics and burgers and beer on the
playing fields starting at 6pm. Hopefully there will also be bands. On page
27 is another list. It is of all those local artists who will be showing off their
work in Artweeks at the end of the month. The Sprout was happy to en-
dorse the good work with a grant to cover the local flyer.
Botley in Bloom, our front garden competition, is gearing up (p29) please
don’t be backward in coming forward!
Ag MacKeith
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NORTH HINKSEY PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
STATEMENTS FROM CANDIDATES
A total of 26 candidates have offered themselves for election to the 14 places
on North Hinksey Parish Council on 4th May 2023. All but two of them have
sent statements, and they are listed below in alphabetical order. The District
Council elections for two District Councillors will take place at the same time,
but these are party political. You can vote for Emily Smith and Debby Hallett
for the Lib Dems, for Nekisa Gholami Babaahmady and Jamie Spooner for
the Labour Party, for Alexander and Elina Turner for the Conservatives. Kath-
erine Phillips is standing for the Green Party. Editor
Linda Morrison Allsopp (Independent)
If elected as Parish Councillor, I will give my time to
ensuring that Parishioners are listened to in Council.
As a qualified Clerk with experience of managing
Projects and Personnel I can guide the Council in
meeting its legal duties to ensure Equality of Ser-
vices, Transparency, Duty of Care for Staff, Data
Protection and GDPR. I will support a new Clerk/RFO
in their roles as CEO and CFO to the council, ration-
alise the number of committees, committee meetings
and policy documents and concentrate council ef-
forts in completing projects which benefit the Parish. For more information:
linda.morrisonallsopp@outlook.com
Nekisa Gholami Babaahmady (Labour Party)
On May 4 I am standing alongside Jamie Spooner as
a District and Parish Councillor, proudly representing
the Labour Party. I was brought up in the Parish and
as a young person want to ensure that there is better
affordable housing and that rogue landlords don’t get
away with exploiting tenants in the way that they have
been locally. I want to tackle the climate emergency,
sort out local air pollution and support sustainable
transport in the Parish. I also want to ensure safer
communities particularly for young women who don’t
feel safe here. And finally, I want to improve opportunities for young people
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across the Parish. Jamie and I can and will make a real difference.
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Lisa Barnes (Councillors for our Community)
I am a health coach, currently studying naturopathic
nutrition. I am passionate about wellbeing and ena-
bling people to live their healthiest, happiest lives. We
are so fortunate in North Hinksey and Botley to have
so much green space around us and I cherish my
runs, walks and swims out in our natural environment.
I have three children and believe that the mental and
physical wellbeing of all generations is partially deter-
mined by the opportunities and facilities available to
us. I hope to support current and future projects to improve the lives of both
children and adults in our community.
Alistair Bastin. (Councillors for our Community)
I’ve lived in Botley since 2016, and was elected onto
the Parish Council in 2019. I want to help Botley and
North Hinksey to be a better place to live, work and
raise families. Botley is changing rapidly, with new
developments and a growing population. I’m proud
of the positive work of North Hinksey Parish Council
to address these challenges: working to provide new
community facilities and improve the public realm.
My recent work chairing the Environment and Well-
being Committee has concentrated on air quality and
road safety within the Parish. I’m pleased to confirm that residential
streets will have their speed limit reduced to 20mph this Summer
Lorna Berrett (Councillors for our Community)
I’ve lived in Botley for 18 years and been a Parish
Councillor since 2015. I work in publishing and I’m pas-
sionate about communication and community. I created
the Botley Responders group, uniting street champions
to support vulnerable community members during
Covid. As chair of Seacourt Hall I support the hall as a
community facility. I also helped coordinate the com-
munity input into public art for Botley centre. If re-
elected I will work with other organisations on a new
emergency response plan, support a new forum for
senior residents and continue the public arts programme.
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Calum Byrom (Independent)
I’ve lived in North Hinksey for the last 14 years and
consider myself very lucky to call it my home. I love
this place and feel privileged to have raised two chil-
dren here. Now they are teenagers, I have more time
to myself and am keen to give back to the local com-
munity. As a life-long environmentalist I have a strong
interest in promoting sustainability and protecting
green spaces for the health of the neighbourhood. As
an independent candidate, I think I am well placed to
provide pragmatic, accountable representation from a
fresh perspective.
Rod Chalk (Independent)
I have lived locally for 24 years. Previously I have
been secretary to the governors, served on the after-
school club committee and been PTA treasurer for
West Oxford School. I have 17 years’ past experi-
ence as a volunteer youth worker. I am a founder
member of Hinksey and Osney Environmental
Group. Loss of three parish clerks in the past four
years is unsustainable. If elected I will work towards
good governance, financial responsibility, democ-
racy, transparency and protection for the environ-
ment. Vote Independent and let’s make Botley and
North Hinksey a better place to live.
Chris Church (Councillors for our Community)
I have lived in Botley since 2012 and have served on
the Parish Council for six years. I work on planning
and sustainability issues and have used my experi-
ence to help improve our local environment. I set up
the Council’s green space survey which showed how
those spaces are highly valued, and organised four
tree planting sessions. I helped manage our Jubilee
celebrations and raise the money for Sustainable Bot-
ley’s energy advice work. As we welcome more
young families into the community so we need better
facilities and to safeguard our neighbourhood in the face of new commercial
development pressures.
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Erica Davis (Labour Party)
As part of the Labour Team and branch Secretary of a
thriving Labour branch here in the Parish, I want to
work with Nekisa, Jamie, Chris and George to bring
about real and meaningful change. Having lived in the
Parish for decades I have seen how poorly served
older people are. It’s as if we are invisible. Older peo-
ple deserve better and this will be one issue I will fight
for. Along with seizing the opportunity to improve and
protect our green spaces, increase access to nature,
expand biodiversity, plant new trees and ensure that as many local people
as possible are involved in the process. Please Vote Labour!
Martin Dowie (Independent)
Please re-elect me to continue serving parishioners.
Over the last four years I have supported local chari-
ties, facilities and interest groups; protected parishion-
ers’ rights; defended parish green spaces; campaigned
for changes to Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme; op-
posed the Expressway; opposed the Pavilion planning
application and made a case for changes that would
retain a Scout Hut. For the future, I am concerned
about the loss of yet another Parish Clerk, the Coun-
cil’s financial management, local development, solar farms, Botley Medical
Centre and traffic issues. For more information please see my election leaf-
let in circulation or email me at martintdowie@gmail.com.
Chris Hall (Labour Party)
I have lived in Botley almost 20 years. I run a local
Taekwon-Do club and I am a member of the Labour
Party. I am proud to support workers striking for a bet-
ter future. Nationally, I believe our two most pressing
issues are Wealth Inequality and Climate Change. I
bring a perspective of trying of achieve the ‘winwin
locally. I would support much better youth facilities and
would want to ensure that our local facilities are as in-
clusive as possible. Let's bring people together and
make things better. See: @garyseconomics @MrH4112016
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Julia Hammett (Independent)
I have lived in the parish with my family for 25 years
and care very much about local issues which affect
parishioners' quality of life. All sections of our com-
munity need to be heard and treated with respect
and, if elected, I will work hard to represent a broad
range of opinion. I believe that there should be
greater transparency and consultation in decision
making, that public money should be spent wisely
and any projects should be affordable, inclusive of all
groups, shown to meet a genuine demand, and not
compromise our precious Open, Green Spaces.
Nicola Johnson (Councillors for our Community)
I have lived in Botley for 11 years, I’ve been a Botley
responder for my Close since Covid, helping with
sending out communications to the Close and ar-
ranging shopping and medication as and when
needed. As the parent of a child who will soon be a
teenager, I am aware that there isn’t much for young-
sters to do in the area. I would like to see more facil-
ities for children and teenagers.
I support the new pavilion and development of the
skate park.
Laura Jones (Councillors for our Community)
I moved to Botley with my husband almost 11 years
ago, a month before the birth of my kids. The wel-
come from our neighbours made us love Botley
straight away. The amount of volunteer work I wit-
nessed first hand during my last four years as a Par-
ish Councillor (we counted almost 45 different
groups in December) makes me feel that not all is
lost when we want to achieve something for the
good of the whole community. Onwards and Up-
wards!
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David Kay (Councillors for our Community)
As a Councillor since 2012 and former Council
Chairman (2015-21) I have been heavily involved in
most of the Parish Council’s major activities over that
time including leading both our Neighbourhood Plan
Team and our successful campaign opposing the
Oxford to Cambridge Expressway. I have helped
manage our community hall facilities as a Trustee
since 2012 and took a prominent role in Council ne-
gotiations for improved facilities in the new Seacourt
Hall. Outside of the Council I work as a fundraiser for
Oxford homeless charity the Gatehouse and also volunteer for the Oxford
Food Hub and the Botley Community Fridge.
Shazia Keily (Councillors for our Community)
I have been living with my family in Botley for 11
years. My two children attended Botley School,
where I have been the treasurer for FOBS (the PTA)
for the last five years. I think Botley is a great place
to live and have always felt a strong part of the com-
munity, having been involved with neighbourhood
groups such as Botley Community Fridge during
Covid. I believe that it is important for local people
to engage with the parish council so that we can all
have a sense of pride within our community, ensur-
ing that all voices in the community are represented.
Julie Lesniarek (Councillors for our Community)
I moved to Botley in 2015 and have really enjoyed
living in such a lovely community. Since moving
here, I have been active in environmental projects
helping people understand the climate crisis, as well
as enhancing and preserving our natural habitats. I
am standing for the Parish council as one of the
Community Councillors in order to help them to con-
tinue their great work building the community and
enhancing the environment for everyone in the par-
ish, be they young, old or in between! I am keen to
help the council build our community's resilience in the face of the ongoing
climate crisis.
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Ag MacKeith (Councillors for our Community)
I’ve lived in Botley for ages, and if I’m elected this
will be my sixth term on the Parish Council. While
my children were growing up, I joined local
campaigns, and together we saved the nursery
school from closure (1980), built Botley Skatebowl
(1990), and held tight to our library when it was
threatened with closure (1998 and 2010). I‘m a
founder member of Sustainable Botley, as I am
deeply concerned about the climate crisis. As the
editor of the Sprout, I help to keep the parish in
touch. I’m very pleased to see the new skatepark is underway at last, and as
a pavilion trustee I am looking forward to getting a pavilion that will be fit for
purpose.
John Marriott (Independent)
I will work to ensure that the Parish Council is a) rep-
resentative and inclusive of the whole community (all
ages, abilities and interests). b) financially responsi-
ble and manages its assets (green, open spaces and
existing buildings) efficiently, protecting them for fu-
ture generations, including seriously considering the
refurbishment of the Pavilion and Scout Hut c) makes
transport concerns a priority, including being proac-
tive in addressing issues arising from the closure
of Botley Road, congestion and remodelling and d) publishes Councillors'
attendance at meetings, missing from the latest PC Newsletter.
George Nicolls (Labour Party)
As a young person living in the parish and working
hard to make ends meet, I am standing with Nekisa,
Jamie, Erica and Chris on behalf of the Labour
Party. I am a law student at Brookes and have lived
in the Parish for the past six years. I am a proud
member of the Labour Party and believe that the
biggest issues facing students and young people in
the Parish are the cost of housing and wage stag-
nation and poverty. I want to tackle these issues so
that young people and students in the Parish stand a real chance to survive
and thrive.
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James Poyser (Councillors for our Community)
Six years ago we moved to Botley to start our family
(our kids are now five and two), and we were at-
tracted to the green spaces, the exciting plans for
the area and the active community (it was thumbing
through a snaffled copy of The Sprout that ce-
mented our decision to move here!). We’ve been
wholeheartedly welcomed by neighbours and new
friends, and now I’d like to support our community
by standing as a councillor to ensure our parish
continues to thrive and provides the services and
facilities that make living in Botley a brilliant choice
for families.
Andrew Pritchard (Independent)
I have lived in North Hinksey since 1973. If elected
I will seek to reduce the Parish Precept that we all
pay, by reducing unnecessary administrative ex-
penditure, and not trying to duplicate work already
done better by other organisations (e.g. Low Carbon
West Oxford). I will try to get the Louie Memorial Pa-
vilion and Scout Hut refurbished to help our young
people instead of planning to spend at least £2m on
a new pavilion, for which little money has been
raised after three years. We also need better public
transport, and we should talk to neighbouring Cum-
nor Parish Council. For further information see my circulated leaflet or email
3andrew3@tiscali.co.uk.
Adam Rankin (Councillors for our Community)
As a current Parish Councillor, I believe that I am
serving the community well in the work that is both
preserving the character of the parish and looking
to improve our facilities to endure through the fol-
lowing generations. As Chair of NHPC Planning
Committee, I have worked hard to protect our green
spaces and rare habitats, often representing the
community against uncharacteristic developments.
Improving leisure facilities for the community are
also key. I will continue working towards this if re-elected.
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Matthew Scarborough No information received
Jamie Spooner (Labour Party)
On May 4 I am standing as a Parish and District
Councillor for the Labour Party alongside Nekisa.
Having lived and worked locally for many years, I feel
it’s time for real change. Nekisa and I can and will
make a real difference, fighting for a greener Parish,
a fair economy supporting our local small businesses
so that they can thrive. Championing the Oxfordshire
living wage and helping those in the Parish who are
hardest hit by the Tory cost of living crisis. I want to
make this Parish fit for purpose and as a youth and
community worker I understand the importance of in-
vesting in our communities.
Nicholas Wedd (Independent)
I'm in favour of the Flood Alleviation Scheme, but be-
lieve that the creation of a channel through Hinksey
Meadow should be avoided and would not contribute
significantly to the scheme. I hope that if the Scout
Hut is to be destroyed, the Scout Group will receive
adequate compensation for their loss.
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CORONATION CAPERS
The coronation itself, as we know, takes place in the
middle of the day on Saturday 6th May, at which point
many of us will be glued to the television, keen not to
miss this rare spectacle. Later on, though, we’ll need
to get out, and the place to go for a party is the Louie
Memorial playing fields in Arnolds Way. Here Tap So-
cial will be providing a bar from 7pm, the 15th Scouts
will be doing a barbecue and at 9pm Cumnor Parish
Council will be lighting the beacon. It is hoped there
will be music in the MUGA for those who want to
shake a leg. The following day there will be street par-
ties or so we are told and on the bank holiday
Monday we are invited to get out and do some good
work in the community with our neighbours. There are a range of perspec-
tives on the monarchy in Botley but we all know how to enjoy a party, and
how to help our neighbours, so it should be fun!
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Finding a New GP Provider for the Medical Centre
The Executive of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) have been in
regular contact with the Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
(BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB) regarding their intent to find a new
provider of GP services at Botley Medical Centre and Kennington Health
Centre and we are happy to say the BOB ICB are on the case.
See below for a draft timeline produced by the BOB ICB for finding a new
provider(s). You will read that ‘Expressions of Interest’ are being sought
from Oxfordshire GP practices, who can provide primary care services at
either Botley or Kennington sites or at both sites. BOB ICB have listened
to patients’ views expressed at the recent meeting in Kennington, and
maximum flexibility has been allowed for within the ‘Expression of
Interest’.
It is a DRAFT timeline, not set in stone and, depending upon the number
of GP proposals advanced, the later dates in the timeline may change.
The PPG are to be involved in the process throughout. There is likely to
be commercially sensitive information submitted in the process so we will
let you know as much information as we can.
The ICB have asked for confidential ‘expressions of interest’ from
Oxfordshire GP practices which could provide primary care services
from either the Botley or Kennington sites or both. They will be asked
to explain how they will provide an effective primary care service. Their
‘bids’ will be assessed by a panel which will include
Ø representatives of BOB ICB from primary care, quality and finance.
Ø BOB Local Medical Council (which represents GPs).
Ø a member of staff from the Botley Medical Centre.
Ø an NHS procurement expert.
Ø a representative from the independent patient watchdog
Healthwatch Oxfordshire as an observer.
Ø a patient representative nominated by the Patient Participation Group
(PPG)
By the time this is published the information may well be out of date. More
up to date information may be found at ‘Botley Medical Centre BOB ICB’
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DRAFT Timeline:
Action for finding new provider (s)
24/03/23
Invitation to all Oxfordshire practices to express
an interest
11/04/23
Deadline to receive ‘Expressions of Interest’. BOB ICB
to seek proposals from interested practices
Early May
Deadline for return of GP proposals
Mid May
Panel meeting made up of NHS and patient reps
to assess the proposals
Mid June
BOB ICB recommends a preferred provider(s)
Early July
BOB ICB confirms new provider(s)
Mid July
Patients informed of decision
End Sept.
New provider (s) starts delivering a primary care
service
What happens if there is no interest?
If no local provider submits an ‘expression of interest’ BOB ICB will find
a caretaker practice (from a national list) to deliver health services for the
two sites from the end of September 2023, when the doctors’ present
contract ends, for one year. During this time, they would carry out a wider
search to find a new provider from September 2024.
Chris Sugden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P23/V0616/HH
54 Arthray Rd. Single storey rear
extension.
22 March
TDD: 17 May
P23/V0682/FUL
167 Southern Bypass.
2-storey side & rear extension.
Conversion of the existing resi-
dence into 3x 1-Bed flats. New side
entrance to shared garden.
22 March
Target Deci-
sion Date:
17 May
P23/V0842/FUL
Louie Memorial Fields, Arnolds
Way. Build reinforced concrete
skatepark on grass area of Louie
Memorial Fields, south of the Pavil-
ion and Multi Use Games Area.
6 April
TDD: 1 June
P23/V0848/LDP
Wolfson House, Yarnells Hill. Single
storey rear extension with lean-to
roof.
11 April
TDD: 6 June
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Girls Can Do Anything
Following on from last month we can now reveal that along with a new
logo, Girlguiding also has a new strapline which is “Girls can do any-
thing”. In short, Girlguiding offers a safe, inclusive space for all girls
one where they can try new things with friends they trust and volunteers
they look up to. This will give them courage, connections, confidence,
and memories they’ll never forget. And when girls feel confident, they
are more likely to know they can do anything. We’ve been by girls’ sides
for over a century. Today we’re focused on what drives, challenges and
excites girls here and now, and in the future. Girls are at the heart of all
that we do. We’re excited to
be moving forward together,
into the future where all girls
know they can do anything.
With all that said we Second
Botley Brownies are cracking
on as a Unit with the current
programme only to stop for
one evening to create a
Mothering Sunday pre-
sent. This you can see from
the photo, was a unique hand-painted Spanish slate memo board with a
piece of chalk and a small sponge. Earlier in the term whilst researching
the slate craft for the girls, we saw similar but plain slate boards retailing
for around a fiver. We are happier with
ours as they are not only unique but
made from quite a lot of recycled
items.
The following week we attempted “Ar-
chitecture & Skyscrapers”. This was
supposed to be achieved by using
quantities of food (apples, cucumber
and pasta etc) but we decided that that
would be a waste of perfectly good
food, as well as too expensive. So in-
stead, we sourced the recycled items
you can see in the photo. The girls
worked well in pairs and were tasked
with making the tallest structure possible. Two pairs worked out that by
28
erecting a flag pole made from skewers and drinking straws on top of their
structure they could increase the building’s height by another 30 centime-
tres! Almost at the end of their allotted time one of the structures dramat-
ically collapsed, but with the resilience and newfound knowledge of con-
struction the pair swiftly rebuilt it “as good as new” in less than five
minutes. The joint highest buildings were constructed by Natasha & Alice
and Embla & Catherine. Well Done All Girls can do anything!
Term ended with a fun Easter Egg Hunt. The chocolates went home in
little baskets which each girl carefully coloured and assembled. As we
start the new term, we have lots of ideas for the rest of the year. We still
have a few spaces, so if your daughter is aged 7 to 9 years old and would
like to join us at 2nd Botley then please get in touch with us via www.girl-
guiding.org.uk.
Brown Owl
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Musical Endings and Beginnings
As Cumnor Choral Society, we performed Haydn’s Creation last month
to an appreciative audience who also enjoyed a sumptuous after-concert
buffet.
This was an especially emotional occasion for us as we said farewell to
our Musical Director of fifteen years, Peter Foster. Peter has been an
amazing MD, his patience and gentle chiding will long be remembered.
He will be greatly missed but we are excited and grateful that Ben Goodall
has stepped in to take his place.
Ben is both a conductor and singer. He works with professional and am-
ateur groups and performs regularly as a soloist counter-tenor with pro-
fessional choirs. We look forward to finding out what his plans are for our
next concert this winter.
We start rehearsals in September on Thursday evenings. If you are in-
terested in joining our very friendly choir (no voice test needed), please
email me at Cockman.caroline@gmail.com or visit Cumnorchoralsoci-
ety.wordpress.com.
Caroline Cockman
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Artweeks Comes to Botley
Once again, artists in the Botley and wider area are making a big
contribution to Oxfordshire Artweeks in May 2023. The three-week
festival of all things creative runs from 6-29 May, but artists in our area
will be part of the third week: 20-29th May. You’ll find crafts, art, sculpture,
photography, ceramics and artists at all stages of their creative journeys
from talented debutants to established artists and craftsmen, all using no
end of different materials and mediums: There’ll truly be something for
everyone!
With apologies to anyone I may have missed or who may fall just outside
the Sprout’s circulation area, here is a short breakdown of all those artists
exhibiting in the Botley and wider area.
For further details on all these exhibitions (and everybody taking part in
the whole Artweeks festival across Oxfordshire (there are 2,000 of us in
total!) visit the Oxfordshire Artweeks website, www.artweeksorg. Use the
Advanced Search function for the May festival and type in the venue
numbers provided for specific information and opening times for each
venue.
Hannah Vickery (Venue 34)
Mixed Media & Painting
2B Hurst Lane, Cumnor
“I explore concepts of space and place through mixed media paintings.
Influenced by numerous physical places and experiences. My paintings
communicate a sense of mystery, of journeying to lands unknown and
undiscovered, of inner spiritual landscape.www.hannahvickeryart.com
Claire Francis, Dominique Malacarne (Venue 405)
Malphor, Hinksey Heights Barns (nr Hinksey Heights Golf Club)
Furniture, Photography
Dominique is a designer-upcycler, a member of The House of Upcycling
and has exhibited at Grand Designs Live. As a designer she is actively
seeking ways to promote sustainable life styles, from which she has
created the professional upcycling studio Malphor.
Claire specializes in alternative process printing: cyanotype and gum
bichromate. She has been making photographs and prints for 25 years,
producing an ever-growing collection of handmade images.
www.malphor.co.uk www.instagram.com/c.francis
30
Rebecca Rowland (Venue 406)
Glass
Raleigh House, Harcourt Hill
Rebecca’s fused glass reflects her analytical approach, fascination with
straight lines and anticipation of how and where hot glass will flow.
Pattern and structure are important features, along with reactions made
possible when chemicals in the different colours of glass interact.
www.beccarowlandfusedglass.com
Botley Drawing Group (Venue 407)
Drawing, Mixed Media
Louie Memorial Pavilion, Arnolds Way
Founded and led by Botley artist Ali Hogg, the Botley Group meets
weekly to produce life drawings and mixed media work. This is their first
group exhibition since their foundation in 2022.
Nick Thorn (Venue 408)
Sculpture
26 Hurst Rise Road
Nick carves in a range of stone from the UK and overseas, including
Caen, Portland and Purbeck limestones. He works with both figurative
and abstract forms, but in all of them he seeks to bring out a sense of
poignancy. NB. While Nick’s studio will be cleaned for Artweeks, it is not
possible to remove all traces of stone dust, so you should not wear your
finery to visit! www.nickthorn.co.uk
Mark Clay and Peter Wardell-Yerburgh (Venue 409)
Drawing, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Pottery
88 Arthray Road
Mark returns to Artweeks with more drawings, sculpture and mixed media
work inspired by landscapes near and far (including Hinksey Heights
Nature Trail, where he and Peter are both active volunteers), and by the
resonance and fleetingness of memory and experience. This year he is
joined by Peter Wardell-Yerburgh for his first ever exhibition, showing his
elegant and thoughtful pottery. www.markrclay.co.uk
31
Emmett Casley (Venue 410)
Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Printmaking
5 Crabtree Road
Emmett’s work is concerned with our relationships with the landscapes
around us, detachment, changing identities and our changing culture,
particularly with regard to the landscape and history around his home
town of St. Just in Cornwall. www.emmettcasley.com
Old School Art Collective (Venue 411)
Ceramics, Miscellaneous, Mixed Media, Multidisciplinary, New Media,
Painting, Pottery, Wood
140 North Hinksey Lane
Five varied and talented artists come together at the Old School for
another year featuring original, inspirational, colourful artwork and
functional homeware. Their collection this year includes a variety of new
work from artisanal ceramics, unique woodturned pieces and functional
pyrography art to art inspired by Oxford.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Botley In Bloom
Front Garden Competition 2023
Categories:
Best Overall Front Garden
Best Cultivated-Wildlife Front Garden
Best use of Vegetables in a Front Garden
Crucial dates
Closing date for entries: Monday 5 June
Judging: week beginning Monday 12 June
Results announced: Monday 19 June
To enter, simply email editor@thesprout.org.uk with your name, ad-
dress and the category you are entering. And if you want to nomi-
nate someone else’s brilliant front garden, please do. See March is-
sue for what the judges will be looking for.
On your marks! Get set! GROW!!
32
33
4th Oxford The Year So Far
The 4th Oxford Scout Group ran 55 evening sessions last term, on every
weekday night, also several weekend activities for all ages. We have over
20 regular leaders/helpers, and lots of other support from parents and
others to make this all run smoothly. We thought we’d write about some
of the things we’ve done so far in 2023…
Everyone has been practising
first aid this term, our tiny Bea-
vers can put adults in the re-
covery position, and our
Scouts can handle all sorts of
injuries and do CPR. All sec-
tions visited the fire station or
the ambulance station; big
thanks are due to everyone
there who stayed late to show
us so much of what they do.
Young people worked towards
their air activities badges, with
Scouts making and flying
model planes, and a day trip
for everyone to the RAF mu-
seum just outside London:
loads of activities, exhibits and
historic aeroplanes to clamber
around. Pancake day was cel-
ebrated by everyone, with dif-
ferent approaches depending
on the age group, as was International Women’s Day, with lots of inter-
esting discussion led by our Scout leader, Kat. There was also a group
visit to the annual Gang Show, where three of our Scouts were perform-
ing after many months of rehearsals.
Beavers and Cubs often cover similar themes each week, but with activ-
ities pitched towards their age group. Cubs had an evening of Lego con-
struction challenges, another on mental health and well-being including a
yoga session, Chinese New Year was celebrated, and there were eve-
nings of storytelling, online safety and digital maker activities at Oxford
Library, also fire lighting and lots and lots of games. Weekend activities
for the Cubs included a camp near Donnington Bridge, and a District ori-
enteering competition in woodland east of Oxford.
34
The Scouts have also spent lots of time outdoors, mostly wrapped up
warm as it was chilly. There was an evening of wide games, a campfire
and hot chocolate all in the dark (and in the mud!) on Hurst Hill. Scouts
completed their artist badge and as part of their writers’ badge they have
been interviewing people with interesting stories, including a policeman,
a beekeeper, a podcast producer, a scientist and a former head of the
Army in Scotland. Weekend activities included a District cooking compe-
tition, and the North Leigh 18-mile hike (with all our teams putting in great
effort to complete the route, and one of our teams coming fastest). The
older Scouts ran the whole of the last session of term, which included a
dancing competition and loads of party food. Several of them will now
move up to Explorers.
The adult volunteers have already been planning a full programme for the
summer, including several camps, lots of kayaking and the traditional
summer water fight as the last event of term. Scouts summer camp will
be in Devon, with trips to the beach, surfing lessons, a bike expedition
and coasteering (clambering on rocks around the coast above the break-
ing waves).
If you might like to get involved and we’re always on the lookout for
more adult volunteersplease chat to Amber gsl@thefourth.org.uk.
James Wynne
35
Kennington Memory Club (kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk) is gearing up to
give the red, white and blue bunting and outfits another airing for the cele-
bration of the Coronation of King Charles III. Does that still sound strange to
you? Those with memory problems such as dementia may find it difficult to
take in that our monarch is not still Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for most
if not all of the lives of very many people. Let’s hope for fine weather and
great celebrations for the Coronation weekend. God save the King!
We now take 12 members a day at our Day Centre sessions in Kennington
Methodist Church on Mondays and Thursdays, increased from the previous
maximum of 10. This means there are more spaces for those with a diagno-
sis of dementia to attend the sessions. Perhaps you, or someone you know,
would like to attend. Or maybe there’s someone who’s a carer for a person
with dementia that needs just a few
hours of respite, and would really ap-
preciate if their loved one could be
looked after at the Day Centre. The
answer is to contact our Organiser,
Helen, on 07852 883496, email
memoryclub1@outlook.com.
Fundraising for this year is well under
way. Arrangements for LADDER-
THON 2023 are proceeding apace.
Look out for publicity about the event
and for the date, when it is revealed.
Could you assist? Help in any form is
welcome baking cakes or knitting
items for a sale, perhaps, or putting
up posters for an event. Many other
roles available! Please contact our
fundraising supremo, Chris, on
01865 300345 or jfauthor@aol.com,
if you have any ideas or could help in
any way.
36
37
Helen Ward at Botley Arts
Botley Arts is delighted to be introduc-
ing modern and vibrant paintings and
drawings by Helen Ward, a local Botley
Artist. Here’s how she describes her
work:
My inspiration comes from patterns,
shapes and colours in the world around
me. I paint mainly abstract or semi-ab-
stract landscapes, with the intention of
suggesting and simplifying. My aim is to
portray a feeling rather than a specific
moment in time or a recognisable place
(or thing, or person). I feel that pleasure
can come from the pure sensation of
seeing without the necessity for a work of art to be a realistic depiction
of anything. I agree with Mark Rothco, who apparently said, ‘A painting is
not a picture of an experience, but is the experience.
38
My approach is experimental, which means that I use a variety of styles
and media for painting and drawing from collage to acrylic paint to wa-
tercolour (and occasionally oil paint), as well as pen, ink and charcoal. I
work from sketches made outside in the landscape as well as from photos
and memory.
I studied Art to A level, and I attended the occasional class or workshop
over the years, but since I stopped being employed full-time, I’ve been
able to spend more time looking at paintings and making my own art. I’m
very grateful to the teachers I’ve studied with locally and those at the St
Ives School of Painting. I’ve also learned a lot from various artists online.
I’m a member of the Oxford Art Society, having had paintings selected for
display at two of their open exhibitions, and I’d like to thank Botley Arts
for the opportunity to exhibit my work. You can see more of what I do
here: instagram.com/hward1820 and you can contact me here:
hward1820@btinternet.com
The exhibition is open 1 May7 July 2023 and the Church of St Peter and
St Paul is open from 104pm MonSat and 124pm Sunday
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Randoms
Our Spikey Friends
Readers who would like to support Hedgehog Awareness Week (30
April6 May) might consider creating a hedgehog access point in their
gardens, installing an official ‘Hedgehog Highway’ sign, or adding a
‘Hedgehogs Crossing’ sticker to their wheelie bins to raise driver aware-
ness. For more details, please contact local British Hedgehog Preserva-
tion Society member Prof. Roger Dalrymple on roger.dalrym-
ple@spc.oxon.org
Report from Botley WI
Botley WI’s year has just finished and we were pleased to have enjoyed
several good speakers, social events, and workshops. Our new pro-
gramme will begin with a special coronation evening to be held on 9th
May. Members have been crafting coronation souvenirs to go with the
bunting we made last year. We will have a coronation quiz and, of course,
cake! Coming up in June, we will be holding a race night on Saturday
17th June. Please feel welcome to attend.
39
We would love to see some new members join us, first Tuesday every
month at 7.30pm. Come and give it a try for two sessions before deciding
to become a member. As well as the evenings themselves, you will have
access to a book club, craft, a walking group, gardening, and music
groups. Alongside this, we have trips, workshops, and special social eve-
nings.
MAY IN BOTLEY LIBRARY
THREE bank holidays this month: Mon 1st, Mon 8th, Mon 29th
Saturday 6th Coronation Day Open as usual.
Monday 15th and 22nd10-12pm, Drop in for Tea and Coffee
Tuesday 9th 11am ‘Bloom’. Nature themed mini show for pre-school-
aged children. Sensory play with music and puppetry. Booking re-
quired.
Tuesday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30thLego Club 3-4.30pm
Thursday 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th Craft Club for Adults 2pm
Friday 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Rhymetime 10am, Board games 4-6pm
40
Seacourt Hall Annual Public Meeting
& Call for Public Representatives
APM 7pm Monday 5th June – all welcome
Nominations are now open for up to six public representatives to join the
Seacourt Hall Charity Trustees. Any Botley and North Hinksey resident
aged over 18 may have their name put forward by two parishioners on
the electoral roll of this parish. Nominations should be sent by 5pm on
Monday 29th May to admin@seacourthall.org.uk or posted in the Sea-
court Hall letterbox at the Library end of the building. Public representa-
tives will be elected as Charity Trustees at the AGM by the Trustees. The
APM is open to members of the community. Please come along and send
any questions in advance to the Chair, Lorna Berrett on lorna.ber-
rett@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk To find out more about Seacourt Hall and
what being a Trustee involves, please check the website at sea-
courthall.org.uk or contact the Chair.
Sprout notices
Many thanks to the people who got in touch to offer to be directors or
deliverers, and thanks, too, for the friendly messages of support for our
efforts! Here’s another kind of help we could do with: our editorial team
should really be a bit more varied. We could especially do with some input
from THE YOUTH! Are you a young journalist? Would you like to be? Get
in touch! The Sprout needs you.
Cherry Trees
Shortly after Easter, a semicircle of white flowering cherry trees
was planted on the lower memorial field, mainly in memory of local
people who had died in the Covid pandemic, although one was
planted for Jane Chapman, a well known local figure who died a
few years ago. Volunteers from Hinksey Heights Nature Trail very
kindly carried out the installation, adding a protective hedge be-
tween the trees. Claire Sykes, the vicar, led the dedication team.
Skatepark
The planning application is in, and the Vale have opened the con-
sultation period. Do have a look and feel free to throw roses as well
as brickbats. The concrete park has been carefully designed with
all types of users in mind and will fill a long unmet need.
41
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 710
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 67.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 710
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.1511, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8
-16
Terri Matthews:
clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email
botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley and Kennington
Patients Participation Group
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening. Con-
tact csugden@ocrpl.org
Botley Health Walks
2nd & 4th Sats 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car park, or
Tues 11 am Library botleyhealthroutes@gmail.com
Botley Library
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Memory Lane Café
Thursdays 10-12 Seacourt Hall Lounge, Diccon James
07740 611971
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie
Warner
Ox.721386
Botley Youth Club
botleyyouthclub@gmail.com
Cumnor Choral Society
Thursdays, 19.30-21.30 St Andrew’s Ch. Steve Morris,
chair. www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 79pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/
tel 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Lawn Tennis Club
Family club
Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
07824 881680 www.oxfordsportsltc.org
42
West Oxford Singing Circle
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Morris Dancing Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
MonFri 7.45am6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 1012.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging
Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
Email: raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly
Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Botley School, Saturdays 9:00am3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds 01865 590510 or 01235 390810
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
43
Botley Baptist Church,
I Church Way
Contact: Building Manager 07742
662668 botleybaptist@gmail.com
The Rosary Room
Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise
Contact: Maria Brown,
Tel : 01 8 65 2 479 86 .
SS Peter & Paul Church
Hall, West Way, Botley
Contact: 01865 242057 or
osneybenefice@outlook.com.
Women's Institute Hall,
North Hinksey Lane
Contact: Val Warner
Tel . 01 8 65 2 452 73
Seacourt Hall,
3 Church Way
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,
Elms Rise, Botley
Contact: Darren Blase 241254
louiememorialpavilion@gmail.com
Oxford Rugby Club,
North Hinksey Village
Contact: Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botley Churches
Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts
St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion
3rd Sunday 11.30am Matins
St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit
1st Saturday each month, 45.30pm Messy Church for children and carers
Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com
See table above for Church Hall enquiries.
Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Yarnells Hill
Saturday 6.30pm Mass
Sunday 9.15am Mass
Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way
Sunday Service 11 am
Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm
Choir practice Thursday 2pm
Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org
Calvary Chapel
Sunday services on 1st Floor, 1 Church Way at 9.30am with
crèche, children’s Sunday school and youth group
Pastor Steve Vickery 01865 586332
contact@ccox.church website: www.ccoxford.church
44
What’s On
May
April 30 May 6th Hedgehog Awareness Week
Mon 1st Bank Holiday
Thur 4th Local Council Elections
Sat 6th Coronation Party on the Playing Fields 7 pm,
Beacon lighting at 9pm
Mon 8th Bank Holiday
Mon 8th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
John Tyler: The Ever-changing Life of an English
Wood
2029th Botley Artweeks. Eight venues (see inside)
Mon 22nd 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: Liz
Woolley: Beer, Sausages and Marmalade: Food
Drink, Politics and Tourism in 19th Century Oxford
Mon 29th Bank Holiday
Every Tuesday, 1pm
2.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Age UK Warm Space for everyone, espe-
cially older adults, with free tea and coffee.
Through the week, plenty of different activities in the warm
space of the library (see page 37)